Dispenser holder for sealed liquid containers



March 6, 1956 A. J. DAVIDSON DISPENSER HOLDER FOR SEALED LIQUID CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 18, 1952 INVENTOR.

ANDREW J. DAVIDSON BY mm W W ATTO R N EYS United States Patent DISPENSER HOLDER FOR SEALED LIQUID CONTAINERS I This invention relates to dispensing means for liquids marketed in sealed containers and has more particular reference to the dispensing of liquid food products.

It is the object of the invention to obtain a construction of an ornamental character which may be placed directly on a dining table and from which the liquid still held in the container may be dispensed.

It is a further object to obtain a construction of holder which automatically pierces the container when inserted therein providing a liquid tight connection with a pouring lip on said holder.

A further feature of the construction is means for puncturing an air vent in the container and providing ample access for air thereto through channelled walls.

With these and other advantageous features in view, the invention consists of the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical central section through the holder and dispenser;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the holder showing the hand hold therefor;

Figure 3 is a view similar to a portion of Figure 1 showing the holder in pouring position;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the puncturing means and discharge spout for the contalner detached from the holder;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a sheet blank from which said puncturing means and spout is formed; and

Figure 6 is a view similar to a portion of Figure 1 showing a modified construction.

At the present time many liquid food products as well as other liquids are marketed in sealed cans or containers. These must be punctured to form a pouring aperture as well as a second aperture for an air vent which may be accomplished by a suitable tool, but the punctured container is not of a suitable appearance for placing on the dining table. Holders for such containers provided with puncturing means have heretofore been made but ditficulty has been experienced in forming a leak-proof joint between the holder and container. Such constructions are also lacking in adequate air venting means to permit a smooth flow of liquid when poured. It is therefore an important feature of the instant invention that the holder for the container not only punctures the latter and provides connection with a pouring lip, but also, that it provides a connection which is leak-proof.

As shown in Figure 1, A is the holder which is preferably formed of cast plastic material and which has a cylindrical recess therein open at the bottom and substantially closed by an integral top portion B. The wall surrounding the cylindrical recess is channelled preferably by forming ribs C with intermediate grooves D. The latter are of greatest radial depth at the bottom of the holder and taper therefrom towards the upper end extending to the under-face of the top B. The lower ends of the ribs C are rounded as shown. E is a spout, the upper end of which is secured to the top B and regisrCC ters with an aperture F in the latter which is fashioned to form a pouring lip G. Preferably the spout E is formed from a sheet metal blank and has a flanged upper end which is embedded in the plastic holder during the casting of the same so as to form a leak-proof joint therewith. There isalso an air vent puncturing means H secured to the top B and depending therefrom and this member may be integral with the spout E. Thus as shown in Figures 4 and 5, a sheet metal blank a is of a width to be formed into the spout E and has its lower portion b tapering to a puncturing point. At the upper end of the blank is a portion 0 which is notched and severed as at d for forming a plurality of -laterally extending angle flanges e. At one side of the blank is a laterally and upwardly extending portion I pointed at its upper end and also having a series of apertures g therein. As shown in Figure 4, the portion b of the blank a is bent into a U-shaped form and the lower part h of the portion f is bent to close the U and is soldered to a flange at the opposite side of the blank to form the closed spout E. The portion 1 above the part it thereof is bent at right angles to extend laterally from the spout and its pointed end portion is bent to extend downward and is also twisted as shown forming the air puncturing means H. The portion 1, as well as the flanges e, are embedded in the plastic material of the top B so that both the spout E and the air vent puncturing member H extend downward within the cylindrical recess.

The exterior of the holder A is slightly flared in a downward direction and on the side opposite the pouring lip G are projecting hand hold ribs I. Thus the holder can be easily lifted to pour the liquid therefrom. In use, the liquid container, such as a cylindrical can I, is inserted in the open bottom of the recess and the holder A is then pressed downward until the top B is adjacent to the upper end of the can. During this movement the member B will puncture the top of the canand form a liquid tight engagement therewith. At the same time the member H will form an air vent puncture in the can which is opened by the twisted shape of said member. The grooves or channels D in the wall of the holder provide ample air connection to the slight space above the top of the can and to the vent aperture formed by the member H. Thus, when the holder is tipped, liquid will freely pour over the lip G.

To provide for passage of the last of the liquid from the can, the portion b of the blank has an aperture or slot k therein which in the formed spout E extends adjacent to the top of the can. Thus, the last drop in the can will find exit through this aperture k to the pouring lip G.

While the construction as above described is the preferred form of my dispenser, a modified construction is shown in Figure 6. In this, the spout E and puncturing member H are soldered or otherwise secured to a plate K which is circular and fits against the under-face of the top B to which it is secured by screws or other fasteners L. This also will form a leak-proof joint between the spout E and the top B.

Another important function performed by the spout E in conjunction with the member H is that they retain the can or container within the holder. The spout E is of suflicient diameter to provide considerable frictional contact area on the can and it is also fairly close to the side wall of the can extending downward therein for the greater portion of its length. The member H is twisted which holds the punctured top of the can from disengagement. It is therefore unnecessary to provide any bottom to the holder for the can will be frictionally held from disengagement therefrom. The upper portion of the spout E is of U-shaped cross-section with a flat side completing the enclosure and with the open portion of the U below said side tapering to a sharp point to cut a tongue in the top of the container, which is deflected and clamped against said flat side.

What I claim-as my invention is:

1. An ornamental dispenser holder for sealed liquid containers comprising a molded easing having integral top and side walls with a full area open lower end to receive the container, said top having a pouring aperture therethrough in communication with an external pouring lip, a puncturing spout having an anchoring portion embedded in said top and depending from said .top in registration with said aperture extending adjacent to the side wall, the greater part of the length thereof being at its upper end of a U-shaped cross-section with a flat side completing the enclosure and with the open portion of the U below said side tapering to a sharp point vthereby cutting in the top of the :container when inserted in said holder, a tongue which is deflected and clamped against said flat side to frictionally retain the container within said holder and an air vent puncturing member also attached to and depending from said anchoring portion.

2. The construction as in claim 1 in which said spout, anchor, and vent puncturing means are formed from a single sheet metal blank.

3. The construction as in claim 1 in which said casing has flanges spaced upon opposite sides of a point diametrically opposite said pouring lip to form a hand grasp.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,129,784 Rice Sept. 13, 1938 2,260,875 Vranichar Oct. 28, 1941 2,545,826 Ohara Mar. 20, 1951 2,648,462 Massari Aug. 11, 1953 

